Identification is important. Clarity is important. Avoiding ambiguity is important.
With those things in mind, when identifying individuals on pictures, on family ephemera, in writings, etc. avoid using only the word “Grandma,” “Grandpa,” “Aunt,” etc.
After all, to which Grandma Neill are you referring? Your Grandma? Your Dad’s Grandma? Your children’s Grandma? If you want to use Grandma at least use the individual’s complete name after the use of the term, Grandma Ida (Trautvetter) Neill, Grandma Connie (Ufkes) Neill, etc.
Also avoid using abbreviations if at all possible, particularly ones that you’ve created yourself. Will someone else know what you meant?
One response
I strongly second that! When my mother told me “Grandma died from (a certain disease)”, I assumed (I know, dangerous thing to do!) that she meant my grandmother. Found that grandmother’s death certificate with no mention of that disease…??? Later in my research found my great grandmother’s death certificate with that disease listed as cause of death!! Of course, my mother was speaking of the woman she knew as grandmother and I had not sought to clarify. Was fortunate to be able to clarify from existing records.